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Seven local firms and academic institutions have secured R&D contracts to support the prime’s work on the Future Submarines program.
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Lockheed Martin Australia has awarded the third round of research and development (R&D) contracts to support its Future Submarine Combat System Integrator Program.
Seven contracts, with a combined value of $525,000, have been awarded to local industry and academic organisations, which have been tasked with authoring white papers to inform the development of novel and emerging advanced technologies in support of the Attack Class Submarine combat system. Specifically:
- Solinnov and Curtin University have been tasked with investigating the feasibility of small form-factor, multi-function, Electronically Steered Array (ESA) for electronic support (ES) and communications in submarine environment;
- IPACS and Saab have been tasked with exploring methods for improving cyber resilience of container orchestration environments;
- EM Solutions has been tasked with assessing the feasibility of the integration of SATCOM bearers in a single antenna payload;
- the University of South Australia has been tasked with studying new and existing console designs developed for ships; and
- the University of Newcastle has been tasked with exploring innovative ways to manage cables.
Following a review and assessment of the white papers, Lockheed Martin may award further contracts to selected respondents for ongoing capability research.
Two earlier R&D cycles are currently underway, with Lockheed Martin assessing white papers for longer term research funding.
Since launching the program, Lockheed Martin has awarded contracts with a combined value of $2 million to 19 Australian industry and research organisations.
“Lockheed Martin Australia congratulates the seven new R&D contract recipients and we look forward to seeing their technology concepts continue to develop as White Papers,” Joe North, chief executive of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, said.
“With a total of 19 unique Australian industry and research organisations participating to date, the Attack Class Combat System R&D Program demonstrates Australia’s world-class sovereign capabilities will play a critical role in delivering a regionally superior submarine fleet.”
He added: “As the Combat System Integrator for Australia’s Future Submarine Program, Lockheed Martin Australia remains committed to genuine partnerships with industry and research organisations and working in concert together to realise a resilient and robust sovereign defence industry for Australia.”
[Related: Defence denies cost blowout cover-up for Future Subs program]
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
